Ryan: Dad

Gigi: Stephanie

Hana: Julia

Daniel: Jason

Daniel: Jeremy

Samar: Mom

Daniel: Andrew Simmons

News story script:

Andrew: This is Andrew Simmons with Channel 6 News. Today, April 19, 2092, I’m outside

Capitol Hill, where congress is currently debating Beauty Spex. As you know, Beauty Spex, a

form of technology that eliminates the ability to perceive human beauty, have been a part of

daily life for over 60 years. However Beauty Spex has just been declared a choice for American

residents after the age of 18, and even earlier with the approval of parents. Earlier today, I went

to a local high school to talk to some high schoolers about their perspectives. I also talked to the

school counselor there, and got a few other opinions on this controversy.

Cut to highschool interviews

Andrew: I’m here with Charlotte Meyer, a sophomore at Mountain View High School. Charlotte,

how do you feel about removing Beauty Spex?

it became a platform for the most attractive people to have such large fan bases. It just seems

ridiculous that people could make so much money from having what was the “ideal” look.

Andrew: Will you take your Beauty Spex off when your 18th birthday comes around?

Charlotte: I’m not sure. It would be interesting to see people in another dimension. Like what

they really look like, but it’s hard to say. I like the way things work now, from what I’ve heard,

beauty seems like it would just get in the way of more important things. It would also take longer

to get ready in the morning hahaha.

Andrew: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me about this issue Charlotte.

Andrew: This is Seth Gardner, Junior at Mountain View. How do you feel about Congress

passing Beauty Spex?

Seth: Um, I really like the idea. I think it’ll add a uniqueness to people. People should just

understand that not everybody looks the same.

Andrew: So you don’t think that attractiveness affects people’s life that much?

Seth: No I don’t. Just because you’re more attractive than another person doesn’t mean that they

automatically have a better life. People should stop making such a big deal about it.

Andrew: Thank you Seth.

Andrew: This is Emily Scott, senior at Mountain View. What do you think about Beauty Spex?

Emily: I think it’s a bad idea, my grandma has told me stories about how people treat good

looking people better. I think the world would be fairer if people were treated equally.

Andrew: Do you think social media affects beauty standards?

so much about their photos. It should be used the way it is now, to promote important issues and

spread awareness.

Andrew: Thank you for sharing your perspective Emily.

Interview w/ school counselor​:

Andrew: We are now here with the school counselor of Mountain View High School, Mrs.

Holmes. Mrs. Holmes we are hearing from some students at Mountain View feel they are curious

about taking their Beauty Spex off, while some don’t want to ruin the way things are.

Holmes: The world of beauty introduces a whole new dimension of judgement and unfairness. If

things go back to how they used to, social media will allow for students to be judged by their

pictures before their character is even considered.

Andrew: How do you feel about Beauty Spex?

Holmes: While I do see the benefits of removing this product, I am worried that everyone will

take their Beauty Spex off as soon as possible. Things will just revert to how they used to be

which is disappointing.

AT HOME

Julia: I’m getting mine off tomorrow.

Dad: Julia, that’s a big decision and I don’t think you’re old enough to make it for yourself.

Julia: I’m going to be 18 you can’t stop me.

would ever get mine removed.

Dad: We’ve had Beauty Spex our entire lives, removing it isn’t an option.

Julia: Imagine everything we’ve been missing, all the things we haven’t seen. I don’t have to

think twice about this, I’m getting mine removed as soon as possible.

Mom: If that’s what you want-

Julia: And it’s not too late for you or Dad, how could you not get it removed? How could you

accept that you’re going to go your whole life without truly seeing the world?

Dad: (stern) Julia…

Julia: Without truly seeing each other?

Dad: That’s enough Julia.

Jeremy: Wait if Julia’s getting hers off I want mine off too.

Mom: You can, when you turn 18.

Jeremy: That’s four years away! Julia’s right you’re not truly seeing the world with Beauty Spex.

Dad: We’re not having this discussion. Julia is 18 and can make her own decisions, in four years

you will be able to too.

Jeremy: Fine I’m going to sleep.

JULIA’S ROOM

Julia: ​looking in the mirror ​This is so weird, my hair is actually kinda pretty. And it matches my

eye color beautifully. It’s so cool to see myself completely unfiltered. I’m so happy I got my
Beauty Spex off, and I’m pretty too. This is crazy I want to go out and see what everyone else

looks like. (calls friend) Hey Stephanie. Want to go get lunch?

AT LUNCH

Julia: Isn’t crazy how we’re just randomly assigned a certain way to look?

Stephanie: Yea, I guess. Remember I haven’t gotten mine removed yet Julia.

Julia: I know but trust me, I’m noticing how different everyone looks and it’s like, we’ve gone

all this time without knowing it.

Stephanie: That’s great.

Julia: I mean tell me that’s not crazy. What if you don’t like how you look? That would suck.

Stephanie: Oh look it’s Jason

Jason: Hi Julia

Julia: Hey Jason. Oh wow you look different.

Jason: I look different? You look different. Sorry, I just got my Beauty Spex off. It’s really

crazy.

Julia: Oh my god right. It’s a lot to take in.

Stephanie: Ugh will you guys stop talking about Beauty Spex. ​walks to order lunch

Jason: Woah, Julia, who’s that?

Julia: Um, Stephanie. She’s in calculus with us.

Jason: Are you sure? I swear I’ve never seen her before.

Julia: Yes I’m sure, I sit with her everyday.

Jason: Hm. Funny I never noticed.

option to. Don’t you agree?

Jason: ​silent, paying attention to Stephanie

Julia: Jason? Hello?

Jason: Yea, yea I do. I’ll be back in a minute

Walks over to Stephanie

Jason and Stephanie are having an inaudible conversation

Julia: ​addressing audience ​I’ve never seen Jason act like that. I guess I noticed Stephanie was

pretty but it’s like he was put into a trance or something. he’s obviously only talking to her

because she’s beautiful, it has nothing to do with her personality, that’s so stupid. He didn’t even

know she existed and suddenly it’s like I don’t exist, but I’ve been his friend for four years. I

mean, why didn’t he react like that when he saw me? What makes her so different? What’s

wrong with me?

Stephanie: ​runs up to Julia J​ ason asked for my number! Can you believe that? You know I’ve

liked him forever.

Julia: Mhm

Stephanie: He said he liked my laugh, that it was really cute.

Julia: Wow

Stephanie: What's wrong?

Julia: Nothing

Stephanie: C’mon I know when you’re upset. Is it because you don’t want me with Jason

because you two are so close?

Stephanie: Ok good because I’ve wanted this for so long. Can you believe it? I wonder what

made him change his mind…

Julia: Are you serious? Please tell me you’re pretending to be this dense.

Stephanie: What are you talking about?

Julia: It’s obvious that he started talking to you because he got his Beauty Spex off, it’s the only

thing that makes sense.

Stephanie: The only thing that makes sense? There’s no way he could’ve just liked my

personality?

Julia: That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying with it off you’re obviously very pretty. I mean

don’t you think it’s a little weird that he suddenly started liking you. He sees both of us everyday

and the day he gets his Beauty Spex off, suddenly he’s all over you.

Stephanie: Oh, so now it’s a competition? You’re just going to blame me because Jason didn’t

pay enough attention to you. Maybe it had nothing to do with how you look, maybe he just

thought you were being boring.

Julia: Stephanie, you don’t see things like I do. You wouldn't understand.

Stephanie: No I think I understand just fine. ​starts to walk away.​ You know, I’m not sure I want

to get my Beauty Spex off.

Julia: ​addressing audience ​Ugh. I hate this. This has never been a problem before. I wish no one

could see what I looked like. Jason used to be flirty with​ me.​ Before he saw what I really looked

like...​Notices reflection, stares at herself in mirror ​I guess I might be ugly.

Stephanie: Hey, I’m sorry about yesterday

Julia: It’s ok. Things are just going to be different from now on and I’ll just have to accept that.

Julia: ​addressing audience ​I don’t know if I’m going to get my Beauty Spex put back on or not. I

guess I want to see what everyone else fully looks like, and I want to experience the uniqueness

and different defining features of others, but I just wish that no one could see mine. Why did it

bother me that Stephanie is so much prettier than me? I mean it shouldn’t? She’s still the same

person inside. She doesn’t even know how beautiful she is, and how ugly I am, she wouldn’t

even get why I’m upset.

Stephanie: ​addressing audience ​I feel bad that Julia is so insecure now. I liked it better when we

both were just friends because of the things we had in common. Now she’s all weird and jealous.

I mean I’ll always love her for who she is, she knows that, right? Maybe I won’t take my Beauty

Spex off right away. It’s not that important and I don’t want anything to change.

Julia and Stephanie: I just wish things were normal again.

End in tableau